Developed By: Nihon Falcom
Published By: GungHo America
Category: RPG
Release Date: 09.19.25
Price: $60.99
*Game Download Code graciously provided for the purpose of review
Before I start this review, I have a confession to make. I have never played any of the Trails in the Sky games. I haven’t played any of the Trails games that weren’t on the Switch. My first experience with the series was Cold Steel 3 and I fell in love with the storytelling. It was then when I started playing the games that were becoming available on the Switch. When Trails Into Reverie came out, I thought it was the greatest RPG experience I’ve ever played because of its massive, interconnected story.
But because it incorporated so many moving parts from more than a decade of storytelling, there was so much to digest. I wanted to go back and experience the beginnings of the story that were part of a “simpler” time, but I didn’t have access to what the games were on. But now Trails in the Sky is on the Switch and I can play it in all its glory.
And oh boy was it a ride for me. It was great to be able to finally experience the story from the beginning. But it was also a breath of fresh air to be able to take a break from the convoluted twenty-year history and experience a story that was at the start. Seriously, imagine jumping into the MCU at the start of phase 2 and then going back to watch the first Iron Man after watching Endgame. That must be what this is like.
But to be fair, I had a solid understanding of what was going on with Trails in the Sky. I’ve done research into the entire storyline when I finally got into the later games, and I have watched people play the game in the past. So, is the game as good as people say? No. It’s better. I played the Switch 2 version, and it’s a fantastic example of what a phenomenal RPG is.
The entire Trails series is a crown achievement when it comes to storytelling. But even though Trails In The Sky is the very start, it’s no different.
The game follows Estelle and Joshua throughout their journey across the Kingdom of Liberl as they work to become senior Bracers. A casual gamer would consider that to be a decent story on its own. But really, it’s just a prelude to something far bigger. There are twists everywhere and the world building is insane. Even though its the start of the franchise, the storytelling is as strong as it could be.
If you Played the original, you know everything about the twists and turns. If you’re a newcomer, it’s best to go in blind because the story, characters, and world are all great. I already thought the story was phenomenal, one of the best of 2025. But Estelle and her personality made me love the game even more.
The voice acting was a huge reason for that. The original didn’t have any voice lines, but this one does, and it’s great. I love stephanie sheh as Estelle. I love Johnny Yong Bosch as Joshua. I love Matthew Mercer as Oliver. They all brought their characters to life. Some lines aren’t voiced, but the combo of voices and music make for great sound design.
I already said so much about why Trails In The Sky is such a great game, but I haven’t even said anything about the gameplay yet. while you’re running around Liberl fighting monsters and enemies, there are two different combat mechanics. One is the standard turn based RPG mechanic while the other is a quicker action RPG mechanic. Both were lots of fun.
Turn based battles are generally reserved for tougher enemies. Use all your attacks, skills, and Party members to defeat tough foes. These battles are very slow but very satisfying once you win. The action RPG battles are for weaker enemies, just smash your way through a bunch of enemies quickly. I personally enjoy the quick combat more, but both methods are lots of fun.
Trails In The Sky has a lot going on. It’s the start of one of the greatest stories in video game history, the characters are amazing, and the sound design is top notch. If you’ve played the original, you’ll love the voice acting and visual improvements. If you’re a newcomer, you could easily be blown away, and you’re guaranteed that things will only get better.
Some people might not like the idea of Paying $60.99 for a remake, but it’s well worth it. It’s an amazing story told over dozens of hours, and it runs very well on the switch 2. Not only do I believe it’s one of the best RPG’s of 2025, but one of the best remakes in a while.
5/5
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